Black-Cab Rapist High Court grants judicial review of Worboys release

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TWO victims of black-cab rapist John Worboys were granted a judicial review yesterday of his release from prison by the High Court.

Mr Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting women passengers.

The Parole Board provoked widespread condemnation last month when it ordered his release after a decade behind bars.

Phillippa Kaufmann QC, for the victims, told the High Court that the Parole Board had reached an “irrational” decision, adding that the victims were “concerned not only for themselves but for the wider public and women in particular.”

Ms Kaufmann told the court that her clients were also challenging the rule preventing the Parole Board from making public the reasons for its decision, describing it as contrary to open justice.

Judges also granted London Mayor Sadiq Khan permission to bring a judicial review action against the Parole Board.

Mr Worboys, who appeared in the dock at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, agreed that the victims and the mayor should be allowed to see the Parole Board’s reasons for ordering his release.

Lawyers representing the Parole Board and Justice Secretary David Gauke said they were not opposed to a full judicial review hearing going ahead.

Ben Collins, for the Parole Board, told the court: “The board does not wish to take any step to prevent a review of the decision and does not propose to stand in the way.”

Judge Sir Brian Leveson said that the release of Mr Worboys “shall be stayed pending the hearing on permission for judicial review and directions … or further order.”